Outboard motor tilt-up device



Sept. 11, 1962 K. I. ROBINSON ETAL 3,053,489

OUTBOARD MOTOR TILT-UP DEVICE Filed March '7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1FIZZ-7. 1 m

PIE 5 44 24 llul krmvzrb'li Ros/use BY J'omv 6. .Bmvou' Sept. 11, 1962K. I. ROBINSON ETAL 3,053,489

OUTBOARD MOTOR TILT-UP DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1958INVEN KFA/uEr/l I Roe BY Jon 6'. BAA/D4! Sept. 11-, 1962 K. I. ROBINSONETAL 3,053,439

OUTBOARD MQTOR TILT-UP DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March '7; 1958INVENTORS KENNETl/Z Roam/soy BY JOHN C-BANDLi- 6% M Arman-2s Unitedrates This invention relates to means for tilting an outboard motorabout its normal transverse tilting axis so as to elevate the propellerto various preselected positions.

The conventional outboard motor has a motor carrying bracket which ispivoted on a transverse axis to a boat bracket which mounts the motor onthe transom of a boat. When it is desirable to remove the propeller ofthe motor from a submerged position as when launching or beaching theboat, the motor may be tilted forwardly about such transverse axis toelevate the propeller. With the increased motor weight brought aboutthrough higher horsepowers, manual tilting of the motor has becomeextremely diflicult and cumbersome. Furthermore, remote control of theengine from the front portion of the boat has made remote control of thetilting of the motor a desirable feature. It is with problems involvedin this area that the present invention is concerned.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhydraulically operated mechanism for automatically tilting an outboardmotor between a normal upright running position with the drivingpropeller deeply submerged and a forwardly tilted position with thepropeller in an elevated position near or above the surface of thewater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power driven outboardmotor tilt-up device which can be quickly and simply detached from themotor for dismounting the motor from the boat independently of thedevice.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor tilt-updevice which is readily detachable from the motor and which is soconstructed as to become normally inoperative when so detached toprohibit accidental damage to the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic systemfor an outboard motor tilt-up device with a novel valving arrangementwhich prohibits damage to the system due either to excessive outsidepressures exerted upon the system or to operation of the hydraulic powersource with the motor constrained in any position.

With these and still additional objects in view the invention broadlycomprises providing an outboard motor with a detachable hydraulicallyoperated jack which is disposed between the boat bracket and the motoror pivot bracket whereby when the jack is extended it will tilt themotor bracket and the motor carried thereby about the pivot connectingthe motor to the boat bracket to a forwardly tilted position and which,when retracted, will allow the motor to gravitationally return to itsupright operating position. The invention is more specificallycharacterized by providing a roller and cam connection betwen the jackand motor bracket and a detachable mounting for the jack on the boatbracket enabling the jack to be readily dismounted from the motor. Thejack herein disclosed is provided with a pump operated hydraulic systemand battery operated electrical system, the latter of which renders thejack inoperative when detached from the motor.

The above mentioned and still additional objects of the invention willbe brought to light during the course of the following specification,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is apartial side elevation of a boat with an outboard motor mounted on thetransom and shown in a forwardly tilted position in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the transomand motor mounting bracket taken along line 22 of FIG. 5. The tiltingjack is shown in elevation in retracted condition with the motor in itsnormal operating position.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the jack in section and extendedwith the motor bracket and motor in forwardly tilted position.

FIG. 4 is a section through the jack taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a substantially vertical section through the boat brackettaken on line 55 of FIG. 2 and looking rearwardly.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system used to operatethe jack in the tilt-up device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the wiring circuit used to operate thedevice from a remote point on the boat on which the motor is mounted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numerals willbe used to denote like parts or structural features in the differentviews. In FIG. 1 there is shown a boat 10 having a transom 11 comprisingforward and rear sides, 11a, 11b respectively, and an upper edge 11cextending transversely across the stern for sup porting an outboardmotor designated generally at 12. A manual control 14 is shown mountedon the operators control panel of the boat.

The motor 12 is mounted on a generally L-shaped motor bracket 15 (FIGS.2 and 3) which has one leg pivotally connected to the boat bracket 16 bymeans of a transverse pivot pin 17. It will be understood that motor 12is movable between the positions shown in FIG. 1 about the axis of pin17.

Screws 18 clamp the boat bracket 16 securely to the boat transom 11. Thetransversely spaced rear support portions 19 of bracket 16 extenddownwardly along the rear side of the transom and each has a rearwardarcuate projection 20 provided with a series of apertures 21 forselectively receiving the tilt pin 22 against which bracket 15 rests.The motor bracket 15 extends rearwardly from pivot 17, then turnsdownwardly at generally right angles betwen bracket 16 and the motor 12.The interior corner of bracket 15 is rounded or arched as at 24 toprovide a curved forwardly facing cam or bearing surface 24. Thissurface 24 is relatively broad and is straight along any line thereonwhich is parallel to the axis of pin 17. The upper portion of the arc ofsurface 24 faces somewhat downwardly toward the lower end of the boatbracket as well as forwardly.

A jack mounting bracket is designated at 25. This is attached to one arm19 of the boat bracket as by bolt 26 to rest flat against the back ofthe transom. This bracket is provided with a rearwardly extending ledge27 (FIG. 4) which has a circular aperture or socket 28 which openslaterally through a slot 29. A U-shaped keeper 30 is also mounted onbracket 16 and spaced above bracket 25 in rearwardly opening position.

The jack is designated generally at 31. It comprises an outer cylinder32 which is telescopically fitted with an innerextendable-and-retractable cylinder 34. The base of the outer cylinderis capped by a coupling 35 which has a nipple 36 adapted to seat rathersnugly in the socket 28 of bracket 25. The coupling has an internalpassage 37 which extends from the cylinder interior down through thecoupling and out one side of nipple 36 where it is connected to a tube38 (FIG. 4). Tube 38 is the hydraulic fluid supply tube and is in opencommunication through port 37 with the interior of the jack.

A bushing 39 is threaded on the upper end of cylinder 32 and it isprovided with an internal groove which carries a sealing ring 40 toprovide a seal between the bushing and cylinder 34 which extendstherethrough. At its upper or extended end the cylinder 34 is providedwith a cap 41 which integrally carries a pair of spaced ears 42. Aterminal roller 44 the circumferential surface of which bears againstthe surface 24 of bracket 15 is journaled in cars 42 for rotation on anaxis parallel to and coplanar with the axis of pin 17 when the jack endis retracted.

It will now be understood that as fluid under pressure is admittedthrough line 38 to the jack, the components being in normal operatingposition shown in FIG. 2, the jack will be extended along itslongitudinal axis causing roller 44 to exert an upward lifting forceagainst the surface 24 of bracket 15, moving bracket 15 and the motor 12upwardly and forwardly about the axis of pivot 17. Inasmuch asroller 44is initially at the elevation of pivot 17 it will gradually move awayfrom the pivot as the jack is extended. Accordingly, the jack will,through roller 44, exert a moving lifting force against bracket 15 withthe roller rolling along surface 24 away from the pivot 17. Thiscontinues until the jack reaches its maxi mum extension and the bracket15 is tilted to the degree shown in FIG. 3 with motor 12 in a forwardlytilted out of water position.

When fluid is then let out of the jack, also through line 38, the motorwill gravitationally descend about the pivot 17 until it reaches itsinitial position with bracket 15 in contact with the tilt pin 22 oruntil cessation of withdrawal of the fluid from the jack. During thislowering movement the roller 44 will, of course, return along thesurface 24 a substantial portion of the weight of the motor resting onthe roller.

The hydraulic system for supplying fluid to the jack 31 will now bedescribed with particular reference to FIG. 6 'of the drawings. Thefluid reservoir is denoted at 45. A

line 46 leads from the reservoir 45 to a pump 47. Line 48 leads frompump 47 to a check valve 49. Line 51 connects the tube 38 on the jack tocheck valve 49 and a pressure relief valve 52. A drain line 54 extendsfrom relief valve 52 to the reservoir 45. When it is desired to extendthe jack 31, the motor driven pump 47 is operated to draw fluid throughline 46 from the reservoir and pump it into line 48. This fluid underpressure will pass through valve 49, line 51 and tube 38 into the jackto extend the jack. When a predetermined pressure is reached valve 52will automatically open allowing fluid to return to the reservoirthrough line 54.

A fluid return line 55 leads from line 51 to the res ervoir 45. Asolenoid valve 50 disposed in line 55 is opened allowing the fluid toreturn from line 38 to the reservoir through a line 55. There is aconstant retracting pressure on the jack created by the weight of themotor bearing upon the roller 44 until, of course, the motor bracket 15has engaged the adjustable tilt pin 22. Acatch 56 pivoted on the motorbracket may be hooked over pin 22 to prevent the lower motor frompulling away from the boat when operated in reverse.

The pressure relief valve 52 in the hydraulic system is set to open whena predetermined fluid pressure has been reached in thejack and line 51.This is made necessary to prevent damage to the system due to the highpressures which can build up under certain conditions. In addition itassures that the motor, when operation is resumed, will return to itspreselected angle of tilt adjustment determined by the setting of pin22. Thus, for example, if in lowering the motor to its operatingposition, the jack is not fully retracted the forward thrust of themotor will be exerted against the jack rather than the tilt pin.

This would place an excessive force on the hydraulic system when themotor is operated at full or near full speed.

Accordingly, while the device here described can be used to adjust theoperating tilt of the motor its principal function is to raise or lowerthe motor between operating and non-operating positions. The jack willwithstand limited thrust placed thereagainst when the motor is operatedat low speeds with the motor tilted slightly forward as when operatingin shallow water. As the speed is increased, however, the added thrustwill cause the re lief valve to open so that the motor will settleagainst the tilt pin.

In FIG. 7 the electrical circuit for the motor which powers pump 47 andfor operating solenoid 50 is shown diagrammatically. The number 57denotes the pump motor which is operatively connected to pump 47 todrive the pump so as to force liquid under pressure into line 48. Themotor is connected to battery 58 through a line 59 and switch 14 whichcan be manually actuated from a neutral position to close the circuitthrough either line 59 or a line 61 which completes the circuit tosolenoid valve 59. Both circuits are grounded through a wire 60 whichextends from the motor to jack 31 to ground the circuit through theoutboard motor. This wire may for compactness be embodied in or attachedto the covering of fluid line 38. It will now be understood that themotor 57 being grounded through the motor 12 will become inoperativewhen the jack has been detached from the latter. This is to preventoperation of the jack and possible damage thereto in the event thatcontrol 14 is accidentally turned to the on position with the jackdismounted.

It is recognized that hydraulic jacks have been used heretofore for theadjustment of an outboard motor on its mounting bracket. Two examples ofthis may be observed in Patent No. 2,638,863 to Kiebler et a1. andPatent No. 2,674,219 to Kiekhaefer. These disclosures, however, providefor vertical adjustment of the motor rather than a tilting adjustment.The tilting adjustment provided for herein has significant advantagesover the type shown in those patents.

In the first place, the tilt pivot is already provided in theconventional outboard motor enabling the structure here disclosed to bereadily adapted to existing motor construction. Secondly, by tilting themotor about its pivotal mounting the motor is less subject to damageupon engaging underwater obstructions. Moreover, the hydraulic systemitself is not as likely to be damaged. This is particularly true in thetype of tilt mechanism here disclosed. It will be readily understoodthat with the roller and cam surface type contact between the jack andmotor, rather than a positive connection, the hydraulic system is notsubject to damage in the event that the motor contacts an obstruction.

As hereinbefore mentioned the jack 31 is detachably mounted on the motorallowing complete and quick separation of the motor from the tiltmechanism and its hydraulic system when desired. To detach the jack themotor is first tilted forwardly either manually or by operation of thejack. The jack is then fully retracted while the motor is restrained inits tilted position. The jack may then be lifted from its seat inbracket 25 and pulled from clip 39 after turning the jack slightly aboutits axis so that the line 33 may pass through slot 29.

These steps are reversed in remounting the jackon the motor. Thedetachability of the jack with respect to the motor of course has manyobvious advantages over heretofore known hydraulic tilt-up mechanismswhich are built permanently into the motor. The feature allows moreconvenient transportation of the motor without the troublesome and timeconsuming task of disconnecting and reconnecting fluid and electriclines.

The invention thus economically and effectively carries out theaforementioned objectives. It is understood that suitable modificationsmay be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modificationscome within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having nowtherefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claimto be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tilting motor mounting assembly for use on the vertical transom ofboat wherein said transom includes forward and rear sides and atransverse upper edge, said assembly including a boat bracket having adepending support portion for fixed engagement at the rear side of thetransom, said boat bracket including a transverse mounting portiondefining a transverse pivot axis thereon, a power-operated jack mountedin a fixed upright posi' tion on said depending portion of said boatbracket, said jack including a vertically extendable-and-retractableupper end portion, a terminal roller on the upper end of saidextendable-and-retractable upper end portion and having an axis ofrotation substantially parallel to and coplanar with the transverse axisof said boat bracket when the jack end is retracted, and a motor bracketpivotally connected to said boat bracket on said transverse axis andextending rearwardly therefrom, said motor bracket including an inner,forwardly facing continuous cam and bearing surface resting on saidterminal roller and having free rolling engagement therewith, said camand bearing surface extending from a substantially horizontal planeoverlying said retracted roller and arcuately around and below saidroller whereby vertical extension of said roller causes substantiallyinstantaneous upward tilting of said motor bracket.

2. The structure of claim 1, said jack comprising a fluidpressure-operated cylinder and piston.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said depending support portion ofsaid boat bracket includes means removably supporting said jack thereon.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a fluid pressure system connectedto said jack for operating the same, and an electrical control systemconnected to said fluid pressure system and grounded through said jackwhereby removal of said jack de-energizes said electrical controlsystem.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said boat bracket has an invertedU-shaped configuration for receipt on the said transom edge, clamp meanson said boat bracket opposite said depending support portion, said motorbracket having an inverted L-shape extending rearwardly and downwardlyover said terminal roller, and detachable latch means on said dependingsupport portion and said motor bracket for retaining said bracketstogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,674,219 Kiekhaefer Apr. 6, 1954 2,747,536 Russell May 29, 19562,775,219 Curtis Dec. 25, 1956 2,816,186 Rands et a1 Dec. 10, 19572,837,051 Friedrich June 3, 1958 2,927,552 Mickey Mar. 8, 1960 2,966,876MacWilliam Jan. 3, 1961 2,972,328 Hodgson Feb. 21, 1961

